Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of AI on the labour market, and how that assessment informs their policies on training, skills and labour market resilience.

The government is committed to ensuring that people have access to good, meaningful work. This involves adapting to structural changes in the labour market, including the emergence of new technology and other changes. While AI-driven changes in the labour market may bring challenges, they also offer new opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and increased productivity.

We are already witnessing AI’s impact on the labour market: transforming the workplace, demanding new skills and changing the jobs landscape. We continue to monitor trends in the labour market as the impact of AI evolves. We remain mindful of this impact and its effect on the UK workforce and DWP customers, whilst working to harness the benefits that AI can bring.

We are continuing to deliver our Get Britain Working reforms to ensure we provide people with access to good work and training opportunities fit for the future. DWP has a strong track record of supporting people to re-skill (where needed) to re-enter work.

Government funds post-16 education, training and qualifications through 16-19 funding, the Adult Skills Fund and apprenticeships. This can support people at all stages of their lives to train and reskill in a range of sectors – including in response to changes in technology such as AI.

Government is investing £187 million to bring digital and AI learning into classrooms and support over 4,000 graduates, researchers, and innovators in areas like AI, cyber security and computer science. We will train 7.5 million UK workers in essential AI skills by 2030 through our new industry partnership with major tech players. Skills England is working with DSIT to mobilise the government-industry partnership that will deliver on this commitment.